“If digital communication raises new questions worldwide, then we should take up the challenge. Germany is working for that,” she said.

Ms Merkel, who faces re-election in September 22 elections, has been under pressure for weeks to come clean with voters on what she knew about the US online surveillance.

A new poll suggests the snooping affair is not yet a major election issue – but the opposition hopes this will change while the media are turning increasingly hostile.

The issue is sensitive for Ms Merkel, who said last week she only learnt about the scope of the NSA snooping through media reports.

Many Germans are angry that their emails, phone calls, web searches and other data have been captured and stored under the NSA programme.

Protecting personal data is an especially sensitive topic in Germany because of abuses by communist East Germany’s secret police, the Stasi, and the Nazis’ Gestapo.

France is among other countries where concerns have been expressed over alleged snooping by American security agents.

Snowden, whose passport has been revoked by Washington, has been marooned in Moscow airport’s transit zone for the past few weeks, as he seeks asylum in a bid to evade US espionage charges for his leaks.

Daily movement news and resources.

Popular Resistance provides a daily stream of resistance news from across the United States and around the world. We also organize campaigns and participate in coalitions on a broad range of issues. We do not use advertising or underwriting to support our work. Instead, we rely on you. Please consider making a tax deductible donation if you find our website of value.